World Series of Poker finalists Peter Eastgate of Denmark (left) and Ivan Demidov of Russia pose over $10 million. They will go head-to head at the final table starting at 1 a.m. ET Tuesday with the winner taking home $9.15 million and a championship bracelet.

Final two set to play for $9 million at the final table

By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS  Before leaving the playing area at the World Series of Poker, Ivan Demidov made a point of walking over to say goodnight to a friend. They looked like any 20-something buddies exchanging a hand clasp.

The two were due back at 1 a.m. ET Tuesday (10 p.m. Monday in Las Vegas) to play head-to-head for the top prize of $9.15 million in the main event's final table. Eastgate led with 79.5 million chips to Demidov's 57.725 million.

Both were assured second-place money of $5.8 million after becoming the lone survivors through an opening session that began Sunday with nine players and spanned more than 15 hours.

"We're good friends," Eastgate, 22, of Odense, Denmark, said of Demidov, 27, of Moscow, Russia.

The field was reduced to those two when Eastgate eliminated St. Louis truck salesman Dennis Phillips on the 169th hand of Sunday's play — which ended just after 3:30 a.m. ET Monday.

How did Eastgate plan to get ready to play cards for $9.15 million.

"Relax," he said. "I've got be well prepared. We're playing for a lot of cash."

Their showdown and taped coverage of the two-session final table will be televised at 9 ET tonight on ESPN.

Eastgate, known for an aggressive, unpredictable style, could become the youngest player win the main event. Phil Hellmuth was 24 when he won in 1989 for a top prize of $755,000.

Eastgate has played poker for about three years. He left his college studies in economics to play online. Before the main event, his biggest pay day came when he won $46,714 at the 2007 Paddy Power Irish Open.

He's been supported here by friends wearing T-shirts inscribed with, "It's in the stars." His friends have celebrated his winning hands with a boisterous song that includes the lyrics "ooba, ooba, ooba."

Eastgate on the song: "They made it up. I wasn't aware of it."

Demidov has a degree in math from Moscow State University. In college, he became a devotee of computer games such as Starcraft and Warcraft. Then he moved into online poker and live casino tournaments in Europe.

After making the final table in July in a field of 6,844 players, he made the most of the 117-day break before the resumption of final table play by winning $608,995 in October for a third place finish at the World Series of Poker Europe.

He's been supported here by friends wearing various types of Russian military hats and waving a flag of the former Soviet Union.

After making the final two, Demidov went off with his friend to his "lucky restaurant," a local steak house.

"It's open until 3 a.m. I think I've had dinner there every day since day three (of the tournament). It's nice place," he said.

Though Phillips placed third, the 53-year-old finished smiling and earned about $4.52 million. There is an entry fee of $10,000, but Phillips got his seat by winning a $200-entry fee tournament as a St. Louis casino.

"I've had a blast for four months. This has been nothing but great," Phillips said.

He's a fan of baseball's St. Louis Cardinals. Throughout the tournament, he wore a Cardinals cap and a white shirt bearing the logo of Broadway Truck Centers, where he works. For the final table, more than 300 of his supporters wore Cardinals caps and the same shirts.

Phillips plan to retire his cap, which is inscribed with the autographs of the many prominent poker pros he's met. He's sweated through many a hand with it.

"You don't even want me to take it off," he told the media. "It's going into a nice, little shadow box."

Phillips says he plans to keep selling trucks. However, he also with PokerStars, and he says he plans to play various tournament in the coming year, including in England and possibly South America.

Now that he's won millions, is he going to get a luxury box at Cardinals' games.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification.

Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.